Discover the Moon: World Monuments Fund Includes Apollo 11 Sites in 2025 Heritage Preservation Watch List

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has made history by including the Moon on its 2025 list of at-risk cultural heritage sites. This is a significant move, highlighting the need to protect more than 90 threatened lunar locations due to increased interest in exploration and space tourism. Among these sites are Tranquility Base and remnants from the Apollo 11 mission, where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin left their iconic footprints.

Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of WMF, stated, “This inclusion reflects the urgent need to recognize and preserve artifacts that commemorate humanity’s first steps beyond Earth.” It’s crucial to safeguard these sites, as they reflect a significant moment in our shared history.

Experts at WMF are concerned about potential looting and damage to these artifacts from planned commercial flights. They warn that “exploitative visitation, souveniring, and looting” could erase these unique elements of cultural heritage from the Moon’s surface.

There are over 100 artifacts on the Moon, including tools, flags, cameras, and even imprints left by astronauts. These items are at risk without specific protective measures in place.

In April 2027, NASA’s Artemis III mission will mark the first crewed Moon landing since 1972. After this mission, we can expect a rise in private lunar trips, increasing the need for clear preservation guidelines.

Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin plan to offer private Moon travel, with SpaceX’s Starship being selected for Artemis missions. The commercial aspect of space exploration adds new challenges in protecting lunar heritage.

Since 2020, the United States and 51 other countries have signed the Artemis Accords, which lay out general norms for lunar exploration, including the protection of historic sites. However, these accords are non-binding and lack specific enforcement mechanisms.

De Montlaur emphasizes that protecting heritage on Earth and in space demands proactive and collective efforts. As exploration and tourism accelerate, international agreements are vital to safeguard lunar heritage sites.

The WMF warns of the potential harm that increased human activity could bring to these locations. The push for private Moon travel poses significant risks to the artifacts and sites remaining there.

“Safeguarding lunar heritage will prevent damage from accelerating space activities, ensuring these artifacts last for future generations,” added de Montlaur. The WMF hopes to spark a public conversation about how the new era of space exploration impacts the Moon’s cultural landscape.

The Watch List was launched by the WMF in 1996 to raise awareness about the need for preservation of historical sites. Every two years, they release a list to prompt action for protecting endangered artifacts and locations worldwide.

De Montlaur concludes, “The Moon doesn’t belong to anybody. It is a symbol of hope and the future.” To protect the Moon’s heritage, international cooperation and strong preservation protocols are necessary to ensure that these artifacts endure for generations to come.

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